The team at Absolute Rentals is so excited about the Canon’s newest addition to its flagship model in the XF series and can shoot 4K UHD 50P in full 4:2:2 10-bit. Not to mention the Canon XF705 has the groundbreaking XF-HEVC codec on board.

The Canon XF705 uses a 1.0″ type CMOS sensor and DIGIC DV6 processing. This is the same image processor that can be found in the C200. The recently announced EOS R uses a Digic 8. The camera is equipped with a fixed 15x optical zoom, and a maximum aperture of f/2.8. The aperture on this lens is not fixed though and changes between f/2.8-4.5 depending on your focal length. At the wide end, the lens can work at 25.5mm and it also utilizes built-in IS which is important when shooting handheld. The lens has three independent control rings for iris, focus, and zoom, all with end stops.

The XF705 is capable of recording HDR files internally using both the Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) and Perceptual Quantisation (PQ) HDR formats. The camcorder also has HDR assist functions to support the user when controlling exposure. The XF705 can also output an SDR signal at the same time as recording an HDR file internally to an SD card. The XF705 has a 12G-SDI interface, which allows for an uncompressed UHD 50P signal to be sent over a single SDI cable. The camera can also stream 4K UHD HDR using the HEVC format via the network. This makes it ideal for broadcast and video production applications, for users who want capture 4K UHD HDR video, but still want to have a streamlined production workflow.

XF-HEVC CODEC

The new XF-HEVC file format utilizes HEVC encoding technology that is about twice as efficient as mainstream H.264/AVC. By using XF-HEVC the XF705 can record 4K UHD 50P 4:2:2 10-bit files directly to widely available SD cards. The way this works is Canon is using (HEVC) video compression, and then packaging it inside the industry standard Material eXchange Format (MXF) container. This is a big deal as one of the primary concerns when capturing 4K material is the amount of data it takes up and the price of the recording media. Leveraging HEVC encoding technology and putting it inside a camcorder like this makes a lot of sense. All of the major NLE and post-production software will be supporting XF-HEVC, including Adobe, Avid, FCPX, and Blackmagic.

* These recording formats will be available in a coming firmware update on a date to be determined.

Considering Canon has been able to put XF-HEVC recording into the XF705, it is a little bit of a surprise that this codec wasn’t used in the EOS R, or even the C200. The fact that a camcorder gets 4K UHD 50P 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording and the Canon C200 doesn’t is a bit of a head-scratcher.

DUAL SD CARD SLOTS

Dual SD card slots allow for simultaneous or relay recording. Simultaneous recording allows you to record on both SD cards at the same time, so that you can use one as a backup. Relay recording allows uninterrupted recording from one card to the other when the first memory card becomes full.

5-AXIS OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION (IS) SYSTEM

The XF705 camcorder has a 5-axis Optical Image Stabilization (IS) system, featuring three modes of image stabilization: Standard, Dynamic and Powered. In Standard IS mode, the stabilizing angle is made constant, independent of the zoom magnification. Dynamic IS mode extends the stabilizing range at the wide end of the focal length, allowing for image stabilization when shooting while walking. Powered IS mode helps facilitate stabilization in the low frequency range at the tele end, and should be used exclusively for fixed-point shooting which does not involve panning.

OTHER FEATURES

The XF705 has a built-in Infrared mode, ND filters, manual white balance modes, zebras, peaking, waveform, dual SD card slots, wi-fi, infrared control, and a host of manual and auto shooting options. The camera can also shoot at frame rates of up to 120p in HD.

DUAL PIXEL CMOS AF

Canon has also given the XF705 Dual Pixel CMOS AF. This is the same system used in the C100 Mark II, C200, C300 Mark II, and the recently announced EOS R. Dual Pixel CMOS AF is an accurate and fast way of doing autofocus with touch focus control, Face Detection AF and object tracking. The Dual Pixel Focus Guide also provides a graphical guide to support accurate focusing when manually adjusting the focus. This is the same guide as used in the C300 Mark II, C200 and EOS R.

CANON LOG 3

The XF705 can shoot in Canon Log 3. Canon Log 3 is a gamma designed for simple grading at a deep level for toning up dark areas and adjusting color tone/gradation to make noise less noticeable. Simple previews can also be performed on-site with Look-Up Table (LUT) accuracy.

Canon Log 3 shooting can be especially effective for documentaries and other settings with drastic changes, along with outdoor and other locations where light conditions change frequently, or where monitoring setups may be insufficient.

HDMI 2.0 TERMINAL WITH 4K UHD 60P OUTPUT SUPPORT

The XF705 features an HDMI 2.0 terminal that supports 4K UHD 60p output. The HDMI 2.0 terminal allows the camcorder to be connected to a standard external SSD/HDD recorder, enabling conversion to ProRes and DNx formats for efficient editing and storage.

LIVE IP STREAMING

The XF705 has the ability to stream video live online using IP transmission in either the H.265/HEVC or H.264/AVC encoding format. Live H.265 streams (16Mbps at 59.94p) can be used to reliably distribute either 4K UHD or Full HD data efficiently to a variety of TV and social media platforms.

The livestream can be viewed directly from the camcorder using the on-board LCD monitor, sent to a standalone HEVC IP encoder or redirected to a 4K UHD monitor for a confidence check and public viewing. In addition, Live HDR data (Message/Mastering Display Color Volume) can be added in the H.265 stream if required to help improve picture quality.

The camcorder offers both wired and wireless connectivity to enable recorded files to be shared and transmitted back to the station or home base via FTP for editing or live streaming.

The camera can also be accessed remotely from a typical web browser running on a laptop or a compatible smart device to control functions such as record start/stop, record mode and frame rate, AF/MF switching, focus/zoom settings and white balance mode*. Background transfer of video files via FTP links is also possible, enabling the latest news images, for example, to be distributed quickly over the Internet.

ARE SMALL SENSOR CAMERAS STILL RELEVANT?

Cameras with smaller sensors are often overlooked because of the plethora of super 35 and full frame options available. Small sensor, fixed lens cameras such as the XF705 still very much have their place. For certain types of work such as news, documentaries, and event shooting, having a fixed lens camcorder that can shoot all day on a single battery and record for hours and hours on end makes a lot of sense. In emerging markets such as India, South America, South East Asia, and Africa there is a big demand for cameras such as the XF705. Often these type of cameras are used by broadcasters who can’t afford more expensive ENG options.